Dental impression-tray.



J. W. GREENE. DENTAL IMPRESSION TRAY.v APPLICATION FILED MAY 12, 1910.

PatentedMar. 14,1911" THE NORRIS PETERS co., vusumcron, n c.

- Nrrnn sTaTns PATENT onnron.

JACOB W. GREENE, OF CHILLIOOTHE, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOB, TO DETROIT DENTALMAN- UFACTURING COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OFMICHIGAN.

DENTAL IMPRESSION-TRAY.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented 1113.1; 14:, 1911.

Application filed May 12, 1910. Serial No. 560,953.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JACOB W. GREENE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chillicothe, in the county of Livingston and State ofMissouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in DentalImpression-Trays; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

My invention relates to dental impression trays for taking impressionsof the mouth for making artificial dentures.

The ordinary trays in common use have long heavy and cumbersomestationary handles which are in the way and prevent the accomplishmentof some of the most important purposes of an impression. 'One of thesepurposes is to get an exact fit to the moving muscles of the mouth sothat the denture, when made, will allow the muscles to act freely andyet preserve the requisite valve-like air-tight pressure. In otherwords, it is desired to relieve the pressure of the denture upon themoving muscles without causing a leak which would loosen the denture inthe mouth. This exact fit of the impression material to the movingmuscles can only be made with exactness and certainness by the activemovement of said muscles themselves. All other methods of getting such afit are guess work, such as by filing and cutting, and are veryuncertain. To assist in the edge trimming of the impression material bythe muscles themselves, the edge of the material may be warmed and thusmade more susceptible to impressions. The patient then Works his lipsand cheeks vigorously which causes the moving muscles to cut their waydown into the edge of the impression material thereby making the properand exact form needed for the denture plate which is to be made from theimpression. Another modern up-todate purpose in an impression tray is toget not only the fit to the mouth but also the fullness of the patientsfeatures on the impression. This is done also by the movement of thelips and cheeks, the edges of the impression material being first made alittle too prominent and warmed, if necessary, whereupon the movingmuscles will work down said with a detachable handle which can bereadily removed from the tray during the essential action of the lipsand cheeks which has been explained.

The invention also consists in the features of construction andcombinations of parts hereinafter described and specified in the claims.

A further use of my invention is to permit the removal of the handlefrom the tray when the latter is used as bite-plates in taking so-calledbites for articulation in making artificial teeth. This is a greatimprovement over the methods now in common use which cannot be practicedwith trays having fixed handles.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the preferred embodiments ofmy in vention: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a tray for taking animpression of the lower jaw, showing one form of detachable handle. Fig.2 is an under plan view. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the tray withthe handle removed. Fig. & is a detailed view of the handle. Fig. 5 isan under plan view of a similar tray equipped with a modified form ofdetachable handle. Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6--6 of Fig.5, Fig. 7 is a detailed view of the modified form of handle. Fig. 8 isan under plan view of a tray for taking an impression of the upper jaw,and Fig. 9 is a sectional view of the latter with impression materialthereon.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 4: inclusive of the drawings, 1 designatesthe tray which is similar to the low-rimmed dental trays in common use.A slight enlargement or projecting lug 2- is arranged at the middle ofthe convex face of the tray. Said lug is preferably formed integral withthe tray, as here shown, but it may be made separate and secured at thedesired point in any suitable manner, such as by rivets 2 in Fig. 8. Aslot 3 extends through said lug to receive the end 4: of the detachablehandle 5. Said handle isstepped, as at 6, so asto bring the fingerportion 7 away from the lip when the V.

handle is engaged withthe tray for putting the latter in place orremoving it from the mouth.

' In the modified construction illustrated in Figs. 5 to inclusive, thetray 1 is provided with a projecting lug 2 similar to that alreadydescribed except that instead of a l notched at P to engage the pins 3when the handle is attached to the tray, for preventing said handle fromdropping out. This handle. is stepped, at 6, and is provided with thefinger portion 7* so that it conforms generally to the shape of thehandle 5 described in connection with Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawing. 7

I do not limit myself to the exact constructions shown and describedherein but reserve the right to make such changes as fairly fall withinthe scope of the appended claims. For instance, any other suitableparallel slots therein, pins in said slots, and 7' a detachable handlecomprising a bent piece of resilient wire, the ends of which are adaptedto be inserted into slots in thctray and are notched to engage saidpieces for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature, in presence of twowitnesses,

J AGOB W. GREENE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five eentseach, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, V Washington, D. C.

